VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Cadence Academy Preschool
365 Ferry Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
(540) 371-9300

Current Inspector: Angela Dudek (804) 629-8167

Inspection Date: Dec. 14, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 32.1 Report by person other than physician 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

Provided consultation on the following: 8VAC20-780-350Q2 Children may not be reassigned from their regular group and staff members for administrative needs on regularly basis disrupting a child?s schedule and attachment to staff and their regular group.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was conducted on 12/14/2023 from 8:50am to 12:25pm as the result of a complaint received in our office regarding supervision and behavioral guidance. Documentation was reviewed, classrooms were observed, and interviews were conducted both onsite and offsite. Based on the preponderance of evidence collected during the investigation, the complaint related to supervision was determined to be valid. There were other violations noted during the process of the inspection that can be seen on the violation report. The exit interview was conducted on 1/8/24 with management. Areas of non-compliance unrelated to the complaint are identified in the Violation Notice. Please complete the columns for "Plan of Correction" and "Date to be Corrected" for each violation cited on the Violation Notice, and then return a signed and dated copy to the licensing office by 5pm on 1/15/24. Please email me at angela.dudek@doe.virginia.gov with any questions.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-4
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of 6 staff records, the center did not obtain the results of a criminal history record check and a central registry check from all states in which staff members have resided within the last five years prior to employment. Evidence: 1)The record for Staff #1 (date of hire 1/11/23) did not contain documentation of a completed central registry check from all states where they resided within the last five years prior to employment. 2)The record for Staff #2 (date of hire 3/14/23) did not contain documentation of a completed criminal history record check or central registry record check from all states where they resided within the last five years prior to employment.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-770-60-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	(Repeat Violation) Based on review of 6 staff records, the center did not obtain documentation of a completed sworn disclosure statement for each staff prior to date of hire. Evidence: The record for Staff #4 (date of hire 10/2/23) did not contain documentation of a completed sworn disclosure statement prior to the date of hire.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	(Repeat Violation) Based on review of 6 staff records, the center did not obtain documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test or screening for staff at the time of employment and prior to contact with children and within 30 days prior to employment. Evidence: The file for Staff #1 (date of hire 1/11/23) did not contain documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test or screening.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-70
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of 6 staff records, the center did not obtain all of the required documentation for staff records. Evidence: The center did not have documentation for Staff #1 (date of hire 1/11/23) that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center did not ensure the care, protection and guidance of all children in care. Evidence: 1)Interviews with staff indicated that Child #1 (age 4) in the PreK 2 classroom is exhibiting behaviors that are unsafe. Behaviors that staff have witnessed in the classroom around the other children in care include throwing chairs, throwing full metal and plastic water bottles, throwing toys, throwing shoes, throwing cots, biting, scratching, screaming, hitting, kicking, dumping contents of bins on the floor, tipping over the art easel, pushing items off of the shelves in the classroom, dumping the trash, spitting, and knocking over a plant. The behaviors having been going on for approximately 5 weeks with the behaviors escalating rapidly since they began. 2)There are 3 incidents documented where other children were injured due to the problem behaviors being exhibited in their presence by the above referenced child. One child was hit with a chair thrown by Child #1 during the inspection, one child was hit with a shoe thrown by Child #1 during naptime, one child was hit in the face during an argument with Child #1. Staff also recalled 3 incidents that were not documented where children were injured by items thrown in the classroom by Child #1.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on staff interviews and documentation review, a staff member did not use behavioral guidance that was constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect a child to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: 1)Interview from staff indicated Staff #6 became frustrated with Child #2 (age 4) in the PS3B classroom and pushed the child forcefully away from the table during snack time in order to redirect the child to wait their turn to eat. Staff behavior in this situation is not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect a child to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. 2)Staff stated and it was observed during inspection that Child #1 is given internet videos to watch on their personal tablet to occupy the child so that the negative behaviors do not occur. The problem behaviors are still being exhibited in the classroom daily so the behavioral guidance in this situation is not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect a child to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.